HexaTech, Inc. has announced the immediate production release of its new 100 mm diameter single-crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate, marking a significant step in the company's efforts to scale up manufacturing of the advanced semiconductor material. The launch builds on its earlier three-inch diameter substrate introduction and strengthens its product portfolio for commercial optoelectronic and high-power radio frequency (RF) applications. The company, which describes itself as the world's leading commercial supplier of single-crystal physical vapour transport (PVT)-grown AlN substrates, said the new product combines material performance with production scale and customer value. 100 mm launch marks another step in substrate development The latest product launch follows a focused...
Phinergy and electrical contractor Rosendin Electric have published a second white paper examining how aluminium-air generators (AAGs) could support data centre power needs beyond conventional backup systems. The paper outlines three potential uses, including providing power for AI and cloud facilities, increasing available grid capacity and supporting renewable microgrids. Titled “From Backup Power to Grid Enabler: Use Cases for Aluminum-Air Generator (AAG) in AI-Era Data Centers,” the paper compares aluminium-air generators with diesel generators and lithium-ion battery systems. The report comes amid growing pressure on electricity infrastructure from data centre expansion. In Northern Virginia, more than 9,000 backup diesel generators serve data centres, according to Virginia Mercury....
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Following in the footsteps of parent company BMW, Rolls-Royce announced the development of a future vehicle platform composed of a lightweight aluminium space-frame. Like the new BMW 7-Series, which uses a new chassis almost entirely composed of aluminium and lightweight carbon composite material, the new Rolls-Royce chassis will put particular emphasis on reducing the amount of mass lugged around by the big V-12 engines. Rolls will use this architecture to underpin their entire lineup, beginning in 2018. According to noted auto experts, the new chassis architecture is destined to find its way under the bodywork of all future Rolls-Royce models, including the forthcoming Cullinan SUV. This means the Phantom, the Ghost, the Wraith, and the Dawn should all see a substantial drop in weight...
The ongoing auto extravagance in Switzerland is witnessing a series of special edition launches. The leading automakers are revealing their new production ready cars and concepts that are soon to debut in select markets worldwide. Mercedes-Benz, the 3-pointed star marque has unveiled an exclusive edition of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class at the 2016 Geneva auto event. Donned with a number of luxury features, the exclusive edition flaunts the “EXCLUSIVE” label on the brushed aluminium front wings. The mid-size van gets 19-inch light-alloy wheels, sports suspension and 17-inch braking system. Along with the ATTENTION ASSIST, the Crosswind Assist and the Active Parking Assist comes as standard, while the luxury van has a lot more show inside. Jeep is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee with an entire...
Leading property and infrastructure services company BurnsBridge Sweett selected aluminium partitioning systems from Criterion Industries to create a breakout room in their Melbourne office. During the execution of their Melbourne office fitout, BurnsBridge Sweett sought Criterion’s products to create an open and inspiring atmosphere in their breakout room. This cafeteria-type room is central to the office suite and creates a buzzing environment with motivational modern feature walls. Criterion supplied their Artesian frameless glass sliding system and Platinum aluminium partitioning systems for the fitout. Artesian aluminium cavity units streamline aluminium reveals, are ideal for aluminium and timber doors; have a weight capacity of 180kg; accommodate 38-44mm thick doors; incorporate a...
Accuride Corporation- a leading supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries - announced it has launched two new marketing tools to help customers understand the performance, specifications, value and return on investment (ROI) of its wheel and brake drum products. The new, easy-to-use Lightweight ROI Calculator - available on Accuride’s website and mobile application - helps fleet operators determine their potential cost savings from making a switch to Accuride products from competing or legacy products. Accuride also published the 2016 edition of its popular Accuride Wheels Product Catalog. The updated catalog includes two new 22.5 x 9.00 lightweight aluminum wheels and Accuride’s proprietary EverSteel™ coating technology. EverSteel™ is the...
It's the first time Audi has done an S performance version of its flagship sport-ute, and packs under the hood a 4.0-liter V8 turbo diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. It produces a potent 435 horsepower, and an absolutely bonkers 664 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to make us forget it wasn't there in Geneva. It's also more torque than just about anything the Volkswagen Group makes – short of the Bentley Mulsanne Speed and the new Bugatti Chiron. Not even the Lamborghini Aventador SV or Bentley Continental GT Speed can touch that torque figure. Nor can competition like the Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (with its 385 hp and 627 lb-ft) or the BMW X5 M50d (381 hp and 546 lb-ft). It may not surpass the old twelve-cylinder Q7 6.0 TDI (with its 493 hp and 738...
Ardagh Group, the packaging conglomerate controlled by Irish billionaire Paul Coulson, is preparing a binding offer for the assets being divested by drinks can makers Ball Corp and Rexam Plc, according to people familiar with the matter. Ardagh Group is competing against three private equity firms for the packaging plants up for sale, the people said this week. The strong interest in these assets increases chances that Ball's pending acquisition of Rexam will meet conditions set by antitrust authorities. Ardagh Group and buyout firms Blackstone Group LP, Apollo Global Management LLC and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC have reached the final round of bidding for the assets, the people said. Binding bids are due later this month, they added. Based on annual earnings before interest, tax,...
“THE STRENGTHS OF SAFETY- Dictionary of Transportation” Conference, the one-off roundtable initiative focusing on the increasingly important issue of safety, will be held at the Maintenance Theatre, Middle East Rail - Dubai World Trade Centre, on 9th March, 2016 (12:30 - 14:00). Middle East Rail is in the third year of an interchange initiative in Dubai between Italian and Arab businesspeople regarding innovations in transport. The 2016 edition of the conference will present various aspects of developments of this on-going project. The conference brings together crucial evidence regarding the effectiveness of research on integrated transport, some which are the impact of materials with sand, unpredictable events, projects designed specifically for high-speed equipment, Smart Cities and...
Responding to the need for more specialized, rugged and capable work trucks such as aerial lifts, field-service vehicles and medium-duty haulers, Ford Motor Co. is debuting a new chassis-cab model of its aluminium-bodied Super Duty trucks at this month’s Work Truck Show. Employing a new, high-strength, aluminium-alloy cab and a higher-strength steel frame than the outgoing generation, the 2017 F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis-cab lineup offers best-in-class capability, Ford claims, with a front gross-axle-weight rating of 7,500 lb. and a gross-combined weight rating of 40,000 lb. “Commercial truck customers need tough, capable trucks the can haul heavy equipment to crush challenging jobs,” says Craig Schmatz, Ford Super Duty’s chief engineer. “The innovations our team has put into the...
LED lighting specialist BoscoLighting announces the addition of new products to their aluminium extrusion range to support diverse lighting applications. With the latest expansion, BoscoLighting now offers more than 70 types of aluminium extrusions and multiple options for each, enhancing design flexibility in any lighting project. BoscoLighting supplies aluminium extrusions for under-bench lighting, corridor lighting, and office and reception lighting. Extrusions are available for recessed, suspended and surface mounted lights to suit virtually any lighting application. The new aluminium extrusions take lighting design to the next level with options allowing for lights to be recessed into walls, ceilings and even in-floor. Suspended fittings can also be mounted at varying heights to...
Apollo Global Management, Blackstone Group LP and Madison Dearborn Partners are in the second round of bidding for assets being sold as part of Ball Corp.’s acquisition of Rexam Plc, people familiar with the matter said. The divested operations could be valued at about $4 billion based on combined earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $400 million, one of the people said, asking not to be named because the deliberations are private. The sale process is ongoing and no final decisions have been made, the people said. Ball’s approximately 4.4 billion pound ($6.1 billion) acquisition of Rexam will create a packaging giant that supplies cans and bottles to companies such as Coca-Cola Co. and Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, according to supply-chain data compiled by...
Chery Automobile Co. has broken ground on its ambitious aluminum alloy-body electric passenger vehicle project on February 23. It is reported that the 1.56 billion yuan project will be built in two phases. The first phase will enter operations in 2016 with an initial annual capacity of 10,000 vehicles. Construction for the second phase will be completed by the end of 2017 when annual capacity will reach 60,000 vehicles.
In a recently published EUWID quarterly report on the German aluminium market, it has been observed that the the omens for suppliers of aluminium packaging are positive all round at the beginning of 2016. EUWID respondents were predicting volume growth in all segments which might vary depending on the delivery sectors but was overall indicative of at least constant operating rates and sound order levels. Producers of beverage cans, who broke a new annual delivery record in Germany in 2015, are particularly optimistic about the months ahead. While the market for aluminium aerosol cans continues to slow at an overall high level, suppliers of aluminium tubes speak of stable operating rates coupled with an in large parts stagnating general market. All packaging producers share the view that...
Onkyo Corporation, the leading Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer, specializing in premium equipment, has launched wireless headphones with aluminium housings. Onkyo has taken the wraps off a whole host of new headphones, including premium on, over and in-ear designs. Onkyo's H900Ms are a closed pair of over-ear cans and cost £230. Like the brand's earlier bestseller A800s, H900Ms also use 50mm drivers with aluminium housings. Aimed at the portable market, there's an extra-wide headband for added comfort. They're finished in black and gold, a colour scheme that features across the entire new range. The H500M (£130) on-ears feature 40mm drivers in a rigid aluminium housing and a claimed frequecy range of 7Hz to 40kHz. The gadget also packs in an in-line mic and a remote in its...
Volvo Cars gives its bestselling V40 and V40 Cross Country the new face of Volvo for Model Year 2017 with trim updates across the range. V40 will feature upscale aluminium interiors along with other critical components made from the lightweight metal. Central to the model year exterior updates are new grille meshes featuring the updated and more visually striking Volvo Iron Mark. The update also equips the V40 with the new ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, resulting in a confident new look shared with Volvo’s new 90 Series cars. “The V40 is the best-selling Volvo model in Europe and the second-most popular Volvo model globally, making it a very important car for the company. With the updates for model year 2017 we make this already very successful model even more attractive to customers in the...
Food packaging industry is booming because of the requirement of food-on-the-go. The global packaging industry is expected to grow to $820 billion by 2016. The Indian packaging industry, growing at roughly15% annually, is estimated to become the fourth-largest in the world, with revenues of $43.7 billion in 2016, says a recent market research report. In a competitive world, packaging design and construction play a significant role in increasing revenues for hospitality industry, mostly out of ready-to-eat food and beverages segments. The changing pattern of consumption of food and beverages has been creating fresh demand for traditionally used packaging materials such as glass, aluminium, silver foils, tins, paper, paper boards and plastic. A wider variety of these materials is used in...
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that the current seventh generation of Phantom will enter the last stages of its celebrated life. Calling it the time to take the next step in the luxury journey, the carmaker will not renew the Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé models in the future. A special collection of only 50 cars called Phantom Zenith will roll out to commemorate the iconic Phantom line-up. Over 13 years ago, on 1 January 2003, the production of the seventh generation of Phantom started in Goodwood. Thereafter, the resurgence of the new Rolls-Royce cars was underpinned by the production of the Phantom. From 2005, new variants of Phantom VII were added. The very last Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé will be built at Goodwood in November this year. These models will not be replaced. To...
Multivac, the leading provider of packaging solutions for food, medical and pharmaceutical products as well as industrial and consumer goods, worldwide, has announced the expansion of its BASELINE series with the introduction of Double Chamber Machine P 650. The new machine will be presented for the first time at the IFFA 2016 and is suitable for use in craft firms in the food industry for the packaging of bulky or long foodstuffs. The P 650 is optionally available with various pumps and several equipment options, including a gas flushing system as well as an MC 06 ma-chine control with vacuum sensor and 30 program presets. Various sealings are optionally available: in addition to a double-seam sealing which provides for increased security with two seal seams, a single-seam sealing from...
Sapa Building System is bringing to market its new sliding door system Confort Smartline. The energy efficiency provided by this thermally broken aluminium sliding system has helped Confort earn the Minergie certificate for sustainable buildings. Confort Smartline, designed for maximum daylight and living comfort, is a sliding system with a lift or lift/slide vent. Thanks to technical innovation, the system enables considerable energy savings. To illustrate, the system’s aluminium profiles are connected through 50 mm polyamide strips reinforced with glass fibre. These polyamide strips are specially designed to improve thermal values without the need for extra inserts in the profiles. The larger cavities between the profiles are insulated with customized PE strips. As a result, Confort...
